Robotech and
Section 508
Robotech's
commitment to accessible products and solutions allows
us to support government in making accessible technology
choices.
Section 508 reinforces the practices that
we already perform.
We proactively educate our
personnel about accessible
design, development and
implementation issues and the
Section 508 Access Board standards.
What is Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act?
"On
August 7, 1998, President Clinton signed into law
the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, which
covers access to federally funded programs and
services.
"The
law strengthens Section 508
of the Rehabilitation Act and requires access to
electronic and information technology provided by
the Federal government. The law applies to all
Federal agencies when they develop, procure,
maintain, or use electronic and information
technology. Federal agencies must ensure that this
technology is accessible to employees and members of
the public with disabilities to the extent it does
not pose an 'undue burden.' "
—U.S. Access Board
Section 508
addresses various means for disseminating information,
including computers, software, and electronic office
equipment.
The Access Board is responsible for
developing accessibility standards for such technology
for incorporation into regulations that govern Federal
procurement practices. The Access Board issued their
Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility
Standards for Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act in the Federal Register on
December 21, 2000. The final standards help Federal
agencies determine whether or not a technology product
or system is accessible.
Robotech and Section
508
As new
regulations such as Section 508
raise awareness of the value of designing and
deploying accessible technologies in the workplace, the
implications for the estimated 54 million people with
disabilities, including 8.5 million who want to work but
remain unemployed are limitless.
Robotech believes that
Section 508 is good for industry, government and,
most importantly, for people with disabilities. We work
closely with federal IT managers and fellow
technology-industry leaders to help government comply
with their new regulations. Our hope is that
Section 508 will encourage more competition and
innovation on accessible technology - which in turn will
lead to an increased number of people with disabilities
finding employment that suits their talents and skills.
Today,
and in the years ahead, technology has the potential not
only to create thousands of new jobs, but also to break
down barriers that in the past may have prevented people
with disabilities from finding productive and fulfilling
jobs. Robotech is committed to
helping make this vision a reality.
Our Commitment to Accessibility
At
Robotech, our dedication to
accessibility began at our inception
in 1987 and continues
today as we develop and integrate
systems with unique accessibility features.
Since our initial involvement
with accessibility issues, we have continued our
dedication to improving the accessibility of our
systems and
supporting new and better technologies that
everyone can use.
Our
professionals
develop and/or integrate products
from vendors that demonstrate their commitment to
providing accessible systems to the work force. Our
mission is to make accessibility integral to our
platforms, products, programs, and services.
Our strategy is:
